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Taken from LSO ‘Practical Tips for Parents with children learning an instrument’
Parents often ask the question, ‘I know nothing about music- how can I help my child to practice?’
Below are a few suggestions to help you and your child get the most out of their instrumental lessons.
- Set aside a regular time for practice, (a good time is soon after school and before homework).
- How long should practice take?
In the early stages of learning 10-15 minutes a day is usually enough. As the pupil progresses, longer periods may be expected.
Regular short sessions and frequent contact with the instrument are far more beneficial than 30 minutes once a week the night before the lesson.
- Don’t let practice become a chore. Encourage your child to learn and tell them how much you want to hear them play but don’t enforce excessively strict practice regimes. Playing an instrument in the early stages should be all about enjoyment; simply remind your child that regular practice will help them to progress quicker so they can play lots of new pieces.
- Feel free to discuss progress or communicate with the teacher regularly about any issues that your child may have.
- Be encouraging. Listen to your child play and praise their work. Playing an instrument is challenging and your child will flourish with lots of positive comment.
- Invest in a music stand. This will enable your child to sit or stand correctly and read the music more easily. Prices start around £10 and may prevent your child from developing bad habits, such as poor posture.
- Find as many performance opportunities as possible- family celebrations, school events etc.
